The World Cup has felt like a juggernaut, an unceasing ball of games rolling downhill over the last three weeks. Everyday there has been so much soccer to watch and read and talk about. It all stopped on Wednesday, with two days respite before the start of the quarterfinals on Friday. And my life felt aimless.
I considered which quarterfinal match promises to be the most interesting. My conclusion is that if there's a battle to watch tomorrow, it's the one between Germany and Argentina. For these two powers seem close to equal at soccer play, and they also met in the quarterfinals at the 2006 World Cup, where Germany won and the teams fought on the field afterward. So there is emotion and revenge involved for Argentina.
Actually, a sort of revenge is involved for Germany as well. The most recent match between the countries was held in March of this year when they played in Munich. And Argentina won that one.
But according to the way he acted after the game, the score doesn't seem to feel settled for the coach of Argentina, Diego Maradona. At the post-match press conference, Maradona had to share the podium with the young German striker, Thomas Mueller, who had made his international debut in the match that day. Maradona, the legend, refused to stand beside such an unknown and stormed off. He would return to the podium only when the German had left.
Mueller is unknown no longer, that's for sure. So far in this World Cup he has made quite an impression, particularly in the minds of England, whom Germany played last week. In that game Mueller scored two goals in the second half.
The sight of Maradona huffing and puffing at another press conference would be priceless if Mueller has a part in sending Argentina home in the quarterfinals again in this World Cup.